Ryan Fenech (born 20 April 1986) is a Maltese former professional

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...

who played as a

midfielder In the sport of association football, a midfielder takes an Glossary of association football terms#O, outfield position primarily in the middle of the pitch. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in t ...

Playing career

Ħamrun Spartans

Ryan Fenech joined Ħamrun Spartans as a trainee, and made his debut for the club during the 2002–03 season, although Ħamrun Spartans found themselves in the relegation group, Fenech helped his side to a seventh-place finish, during the season Ryan made six appearances and scored one goal. Ryan started to establish himself in the first team, but unfortunately Ħamrun Spartans finished the season in 10th, bottom position in the Maltese Premier League for the 2003–04 season. During the season Ryan made ten appearances. Fenech and Ħamrun Spartans heartache was short lived as the club gained an immediate return to the Maltese Premier League, as the club finished as champions in the Maltese First Division for the 2004–05 season. The 2005–06 season saw Ryan and Ħamrun Spartans return to the Maltese Premier League, and the hope that they could retain their Premier League status, however it was to be another disappointing season for Ryan Fenech, as Ħamrun Spartans finished in 10th position and were again relegated to the First Division, during the season Fenech made 20 appearances and scored two goals. Ryan and Ħamrun Spartans started and finished the 2006–07 season with a replica of what they did during the 2004–05 season, with another championship win, and an immediate return to the Premier League. Fenech was hopeful that he could this time keep Ħamrun Spartans in the Premier League during the 2007–08 season, following a hard season, Ħamrun Spartans defied the odds and finished in sixth position. Ryan's performances were so impressive that he was called up to the

Malta national football team The Malta national football team () represents Malta in men's international Association football, football and is controlled by the Malta Football Association, the governing body for football in Malta. The first official game played by Malta ...

, during the season Ryan made 24 appearances and scored two goals. For the 2008–09 season, Fenech and Ħamrun Spartans hoped to improve on their previous season, but the club did anything but, and following an extremely poor season Ħamrun Spartans were yet again relegated to the First Division. with another 10th-place finish, during the season, Ryan made 22 appearances and scored one goal. With the player in high demand, linked with

Marsaxlokk Marsaxlokk () is a small, traditional fishing village in the Southern Region, Malta, Southern Region of Malta. It has a harbour, and is a tourist attraction known for its views, fishing and history. As of March 2014, the village had a populati ...

Valletta Valletta ( ; , ) is the capital city of Malta and one of its 68 Local councils of Malta, council areas. Located between the Grand Harbour to the east and Marsamxett Harbour to the west, its population as of 2021 was 5,157. As Malta’s capital ...

and Sliema Wanderers, and forcing his way into the Maltese national team, Fenech was seeking a short term move away from Ħamrun Spartans, with the player thinking if he stayed with Ħamrun Spartans and played in the First Division it may harm his international chances.

Sliema Wanderers

During the summer of 2009, Ryan Fenech completed a season long loan deal to move from Ħamrun Spartans to Sliema Wanderers. Fenech made his Premier League debut for Sliema Wanderers on 30 August 2009 in a 1–0 defeat to

Qormi Qormi (, , ), also known by its title Città Pinto, is a city in the Southern Region, Malta, Southern Region of Malta, southwest of Valletta in the centre of the island. It has a population of 16,324 (as of March 2018), making it Malta's fifth-la ...

. Ryan scored his first Premier League goal for Sliema Wanderers on 7 February 2010, as he scored after 11 minutes to help Sliema Wanderers to a 3–0 victory over Floriana.

Valletta

Fenech joined Valletta for the 2010–11 season of the Premier League. At his first season with Valletta, Fenech won the Premier League, going unbeaten all season. Fenech played a vital part in Valletta's UEFA Champions League qualifiers, where Valletta reached the second round after beating Tre Fiori 5–1 on aggregate. They then faced

FK Ekranas Panevėžio Ekranas is a Lithuanian football club, from the city of Panevėžys. It won 7 top-tier champion and 5 national cup titles throughout its existence. History The club was founded in 1964 and for 24 years competed in the top tier of L ...

, where they lost 2–4 on aggregate.

Honours

Club

;Ħamrun Spartans * Maltese First Division: 2004–05, 2006–07 ;Valletta *

Maltese Premier League The Maltese Premier League, known as 360Sports Malta Premier for sponsorship reasons with 360Sports (colloquialism, colloquially known as ''Il-Kampjonat Premjer''), is the highest level of professional football in Malta. Managed by the Malta Foot ...

: 2013–14

Individual

* Maltese Player of the Year: 2013–14

Personal life

* Ryan is the older brother of Ħamrun Spartans

Roderick Fenech. * Married with 2 kids. * Fenech says that his favourite overseas team is

Juventus Juventus Football Club (; from , ), commonly known as Juventus or colloquially as Juve (), is an Italian professional Association football, football List of football clubs in Italy, club based in Turin, Piedmont, who compete in Serie A, the ...

, and that his favourite footballer is

Alessandro Del Piero Alessandro Del Piero (; born 9 November 1974) is an Italian former professional footballer who mainly played as a second striker, although he was capable of playing in several offensive positions. Since 2015, he has worked as a pundit for ...

Career statistics

''Statistics accurate as of match played 1 August 2009.''

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Fenech, Ryan 1986 births Living people People from Ħamrun Men's association football midfielders Maltese men's footballers Hamrun Spartans F.C. players Sliema Wanderers F.C. players Valletta F.C. players Balzan F.C. players Birkirkara F.C. players Maltese Premier League players Malta men's under-21 international footballers Malta men's international footballers Competitors at the 2005 Mediterranean Games Mediterranean Games competitors for Malta